On Monday, more than 30,000 runners will participate in the 128th Boston Marathon and many more will flock to the course sidelines to show their support and cheer on friends, family, and complete strangers.
This year marks the 100th anniversary of the current starting line in Hopkinton. Initially, the race started in Ashland because it was about 26 miles on the train from the Boston Athletic Association's headquarters. When the official length of the marathon was extended, organizers had to move the race out a little further to where runners start their journey today.
If you want to be a part of the celebration, but don’t have the legs to run 26.2 miles, check out our spectator guide to the 2024 Boston Marathon:
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When does the Boston Marathon start?
- Military March: 6 a.m.
- Men’s Wheelchair: 9:02 a.m.
- Women’s Wheelchair: 9:05 a.m.
- Handcycles and Duos: 9:30 a.m.
- Professional Men: 9:37 a.m.
- Professional Women: 9:45 a.m.
- Para Athletics Division: 9:50 a.m.
- Rest of Field Rolling Start Begins: 10 a.m.
- Rest of Field Rolling Start Ends: 11:30 a.m.
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What can and can't I bring with me to the course?
The Massachusetts State Police has released a guide of what spectators can bring with them if they're looking to cheer runners on.
The list of banned items for spectators on the course:
- weapons
- fireworks or other explosives
- suitcases or large packages
- backpacks or bags carried over the shoulder.
- costumes
- "props" like flagpoles or military gear
- coolers
- class bottles or anything larger than 1 liter.
- large blankets
Also, do not go on the course yourself. There are designated crossing areas and barriers to prevent people from wandering into the way of runners.
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Who is running the 2023 Boston Marathon
The heart and soul of the Marathon, though, comes from the nearly 30,000 amateur runners who make up the bulk of the field.
Make sure to keep an eye out for some famous faces in the field. One that might be easy to spot is former Bruins defenseman Zdeno Chara, who stands 6-foot-9 and is running his second Boston Marathon and running for Team Hoyt.
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What is interesting about the Boston Marathon course
The race course runs through eight communities, starting in downtown Hopkinton. Runners start by making the comparatively short 0.7-mile walk from Hopkinton High School to the starting line in front of the Town Common.
The course then winds through Union Street in Ashland, downtown Framingham along Waverly Street and through Central Street in Natick as it nears the halfway point near the Natick-Wellesley line.
"Everyone tends to focus on the uphills, but I think the biggest challenge in the MetroWest section is actually the two huge downhills that exhaust the runners’ quads," said Mark Goldschmidt, a member of the Greater Framingham Runners Club, who has run the marathon twice."The first is literally at the start, where the road goes steeply downhill for about a half mile. Then you have a pretty long gradual incline through Ashland that starts at the new public service building. Another deceptive one is on the Framingham/Natick line that passes Wendy’s. "
The course continues northeast as it heads up Washington Street in Wellesley and Newton, then heading down Commonwealth Avenue and up “Heartbreak Hill” as the runners push past the 20-mile mark. The race wraps up as runners head around Coolidge Corner in Brookline before the furious finish down Beacon Street, ending on Boylston Street in Boston, near the Boston Public Library.
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Starting line to Heartbreak Hill to Wellesley College 'Scream Tunnel': Where to watch along the Boston Marathon Route
While there are plenty of memorable spots to watch closer to the finish line of the race, from the Wellesley College “Scream Tunnel” to Heartbreak Hill and, of course, the finish line on Boylston Street, there are plenty of underrated spots to watch the competition as well.
Not only is the Framingham Train Depot, at 417 Waverly St., a great place to see runners, but spectators can easily hop on the commuter rail and take the train into the city to see the finish as well. The same can be said for the Ashland commuter rail spot, which is less than a mile from the course in downtown Ashland.
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"As a runner and Framingham native, I was so proud to run through Framingham when I ran in 2017," Goldschmidt said. "The rich diversity that I get to witness daily as a Framingham High School teacher shone brightly that day. There were great crowds at La Cantina and the 6 Mile Moment from Monnick’s Supply, past the train station and all the way past the Beaver Street intersection. I was amazed at the very enthusiastic crowd at TJ’s in Ashland, too, but it’s land-locked so people have to get there early before the road is closed."
Fiske Pond in Natick, where crowds pack both sides of the street with the water as a backdrop, is a quintessential slice of springtime in New England, and the Natick Town Common is also regularly packed with spectators taking in the action.
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Food, music, beers and other things to do
The Marathon route will be filled with food, music and activities for spectators of all ages.
Jack’s Abby Craft Lagers is hosting a special event, in conjunction with Downtown Framingham Inc., in its parking lot. The event will feature live music, snacks, activities for children and of course, craft beer, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.
The brewery also announced they will have two special beers exclusively available at their beer hall to celebrate the Marathon. Boston Rising is a double hoppy lager with an ABV of 8 percent, and Modern Hell is a helles that comes in at a 5.2 percent ABV.
Another brewery, the appropriately named Start Line Brewing in Hopkinton, is hosting after-party once things begin winding down. The event features live music from The Spare Parts Band, food and beer. It starts at 2 p.m. and tickets can be purchased onlinefor $15.
Start Line has a Marathon Wheat on tap they describe as "[d]esigned to celebrate the people and communities that make Marathon season so special." Also, through April 21, showing a ticket to the Marathon Expo at the Hynes Convention Center will get you 20 percent off food.
Additional restaurants that offer race-side dining include, but not limited to:
- TJ's Food and Spirits, 355 WestUnion St., Ashland
- Morse Tavern, 85 East Central St., Natick
- The Local, 11 Forest St., Wellesley
- Cityside Tavern, 1960 Beacon St., Brighton
- The Washington Square Tavern, 714 Washington St.,Brookline
- Atlantic Fish Co., 761 Boylston St., Boston (itsMarathon watch party is sold out)
How to get to the Boston Marathon on the MBTA
Most of the course is accessible via public transportation, with parts of the Framingham/Worcester commuter rail line and the Green Line’s B, C and D branches within walking distance. Plan your trip with the MBTA’s onlinetrip planner.
Throughout the whole weekend, unlimited commuter rail rides can
Copley Station will be closed for the entire day on Monday, though nearby Arlington(all Green Line branches), Prudential(Green Line E branch), Hynes Convention Center (Green Line B, C and D branches) and Back Bay (Orange Line) stations will be open. The above-ground Green Line stops at South Street (B branch), Kent Streetand St. Mary’s Street (C branch) will be closed from approximately 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., according to the MBTA'sMarathon Guide.
The Red, Orange, Blue and Silver Lines will run on a regular weekday schedule, with additional service before and after the race. Buses will also run on their regular schedule, though some routes may be detoured around the Marathon.
MBTA service starts about 5 a.m., and there will be a $15 commuter rail Marathon pass available for unlimited all-weekend use.You can purchase a $11 unlimitedone-day passfor use on buses and subway lines, available at station fare vending machines.
If driving, keep in mind some roads will be closed on Marathon Monday, and parking may be limited in certain locations. There will be limited parking for spectators at the 171South St.parking lot in Hopkinton. On-street parking will be “extremely limited” near the finish line, according to the B.A.A. There are parking garages in the area, though some may be inaccessible on race day.
Daily parking ratesat MBTA stations vary, and you can check real-time MBTA parking garage availability on Twitter@MBTA_Parking.
